pasta – The Vegan Love Project

I Totally Winged It Amazing Macaroni & Cheese with Broccoli

Since opening the second studio- time has become even more precious and my commitment to eating beautiful foods has become even more a priority (NO MORE PALM OIL). I had a craving for Mac & Cheese and none of the ingredients that I had used to make the last recipe- I had no beans that were cooked in the house other than dal, no peppers, so I improvised with what I had- homemade hummus, and a beautiful local Butterkin Squash that I roasted. Instead of adding garlic and beans I added the hummus, I added my Fermented Hot Sauce instead of fresh red peppers. It came out spicy and perfectly paired with the sweetness of local broccoli. It was SO SO good- I made it after class and it literally took no more than the 15 minutes to boil the pasta before I was sitting down eating it. Hope you enjoy it!

I Totally Winged It Amazing Macaroni & Cheese with Broccoli

1c prepared hummus or chickpeas or white beans

3T fermented Hot Sauce or sriracha (spicy)

2T mellow white miso paste

2T cooked squash- Butternut, kobocha or other orange-fleshed squash

1/4c raw cashews

1/4c nutritional yeast

2T tapioca starch

2t agave or maple syrup

2t ume vinegar

1t brown rice vinegar

2t chipotle powder

2T extra virgin olive oil

1c to 1-1/2c water (depending upon desired thickness)

1/2t pink salt

1T coconut oil or vegan NO PALM oil Butter *optional

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2c-cooked broccoli, minced (see below- frozen broccoli would work well)

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1 Pound of Gluten Free Pasta

6c water to boil

2t pink salt

Clean and trim the broccoli and keep in larger florets with stalks.

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil, add the salt, toss in the broccoli and cook just until tender and bright green- about 3-4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, sweep the broccoli out into a strainer and set aside to cool.

Add the pasta into the boiling water and cook until tender- 10-12 minutes or according to package.

While the pasta is cooking, when the broccoli is cool, using a sharp knife, mince the broccoli. Lightly salt and pepper and set aside.

Place all of ingredients except the tapioca starch and broccoli, into a blender and process until smooth and creamy. Taste it and adjust for saltiness and seasoning. Add in the tapioca starch and blend well.

Drain the pasta and set aside. In the same pot add the cheese sauce and stir over medium heat until it starts to thicken- about 2-3 minutes. Add in the pasta and continue to cook over medium heat for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the entire mixture is heated through. Add in the coconut oil or butter. Add in the broccoli and stir until well incorporated.

Serve immediately. YUM.

AMAZING MACARONI & CHEESE

AMAZING MACARONI & CHEESE

This stuff is INCREDIBLE! Can be made completely gluten-free, nut-free, and or soy-free. I have been experimenting with tapioca flour lately and its delivering some pretty amazing results! I dare you to experiment with other beans, other peppers, other pastas- its completely amazing on the stove top or scroll down for a baked Mac&Cheese option. Let me know how it goes!

Cheese Sauce:

1c baby lima beans, cooked

½ red bell pepper OR 2 cherry bomb peppers (spicy)

2T mellow white miso paste

1/4c raw cashews OR 1/4c tofu (nut free) OR 1/4c coconut oil or Manna (soy free)

1/4c nutritional yeast

1 clove garlic

2T tapioca starch

2t ume vinegar

1t brown rice vinegar

2t chipotle powder

2T extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1c to 1-1/2c water (depending upon desired thickness)

1/2t pink salt

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1 Pound of Gluten Free Elbow Pasta or other pasta

6c water to boil

2t pink salt

In a large pot, bring the pasta water to a boil, add the salt, toss in the pasta and cook until tender- 10-12 minutes or according to package. Drain and set aside.

Place all of ingredients except the tapioca starch into a blender and process until smooth and creamy. Taste it and adjust for saltiness and seasoning. When it tastes how you like, blend in the tapioca.

In a large pot (I use the pasta pot), put the cooked pasta back in, drizzle some coconut or olive oil in and add the cheese sauce. Put back over medium heat and mix and stir well. The heat will make the mixture thicken and get creamy. When at desired creaminess, plate and indulge!!!

For Baked Mac&Cheese:

Leave the Mac&Cheese mixture on the wetter, creamier side- this is because it will be taking on additional cooking in the oven and you don’t want it to dry out.

Toast gluten free bread or bread of your choosing- enough to cover the portion you are baking. With a sharp knife, mince the bread into teeny pieces. Toss with coconut oil and salt and nutritional yeast. Scoop a single serving (or larger) and top with the breadcrumbs. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbling and hot.

AMAZING Gluten-Free Pasta Summer Salad

You can use all of the vegetables you love in this amazing pasta dish- edamame instead of chickpeas, more or less of your faves but this is a WINNER- PERFECT for pot lucks and summer gatherings.

AMAZING Gluten-Free Pasta Summer Salad

½ red bell pepper, small dice

½ green bell pepper, small dice

1 carrot, small dice

½ small red onion, small dice

1 stalk celery, small dice

1c cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained

3c uncooked pasta, fusilli (or another desired shape)- I use Bionaturae and LOVE it

1T sweetener (raw agave, raw honey, maple)

1T apple cider vinegar

1c vegan mayo

1/4c fresh lemon juice

2T extra virgin olive oil

1t pink salt

1/4t fresh black pepper

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Cook the pasta according to directions, drain and let stand until cool but warm.

In a large bowl, mix all of the veggies with the other dressing ingredients and toss well. This mix should be well seasoned before adding the cooked pasta- if not adjust for saltiness, sweetness as desired.

Add the pasta and with a large spoon, mix well until all of the pasta is well incorporated into the vegetable dressing. Allow to stand on the counter for at least 30 minutes- I am not sure why, but this prevents the Gluten-Free pasta from getting hard when it is refrigerated! You can enjoy this at room temperature or cold. FRICKEN delicious.

Broccoli Mushroom Onion Black Olive Red Pepper Tofu Ricotta Lasagna with Red Sauce

I love lasagna. I love it. I have my Nana’s small and large lasagna pan. Usually by the fall I am ready for some serious food- This. Is. Serious. Food. I created a twist on my favorite tofu ricotta with some little local beauty peppers, including a cherry bomb, my favorite of all peppers. It makes for a subtly spicy kick that is perfect with the creaminess of the lasagna. In all lasagnas, its about the components. The sauce, the filling (tofu cheese), the veggies. I make it so each component has a ton of flavor so when put together, they all make this symphony of flavors. You can use this recipe as a guide but it is so easy to change out the components to suit your taste.

I have used the Red Pepper Tofu Ricotta Filling and the basic Red Sauce recipe for two of the components. I will list the others in recipe below but feel free to create!!!

Components:

Sautéed Broccoli & Garlic
basic Red Sauce
1 box of lasagna noodles, cooked ( I used Gluten-Free)
Red Pepper Tofu Ricotta Filling
Mushroom, Onion & Black Olive Filling
Vegan Cheese* optional ( I use Monteray Jack by Have a Heart, shredded)

Putting it together:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
ladle in about 1 cup of fresh sauce in the bottom of the baking dish
place down one layer of noodles
layer in the tofu filling
layer in broccoli
layer in noodles
layer in sauce- some vegan cheese if using
layer in mushroom filling
layer in noodles
layer in sauce
layer in tofu filling
layer in last layer of noodles
cover the top layer with fresh sauce
top with vegan cheese if using
Cover with tin foil and bake for 45-55 minutes.

Mushroom, Onion & Black Olive Filling

1 pound of Crimini or Button mushrooms, dry dusted, trimmed and cut into quarters or slices

1 medium onion, small dice

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can organic pitted black olives

2T mirin or white wine (mirin is sweet)

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/2t pink salt

1/4t fresh black pepper

1/4t red pepper flakes

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Heat up a large cast iron pan or skillet over medium heat. Add in the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic until golden and aromatic. Add in the mushrooms. Pan fry until the sear and get browned on all sides. Season with the salt and peppers. dd in the mirin and sauté off heat for a minute then resume back over the heat. Add in the olives, crushing them with your hand as you add them in. Cook until heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning accordingly.

Sautéed Broccoli with garlic

1 bunch broccoli, washed, trimmed, and cut into smaller size pieces

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4t cayenne pepper flakes

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/4t salt

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In a large skillet (could be the same pan from above) heat up the olive oil over medium high heat and sauté the garlic just until golden brown. Add the salt, red pepper, and then add the broccoli. With a fork or a pair of tongs, move the broccoli around the pan cooking until bright green and tender. Remove from the heat. When cooled, coarsely chop the broccoli and set aside.

Ellen’s No Meat Sauce

I made this sauce tonight after work- it doesn’t take long and it is SUPER delicious, hearty, and satisfying. The tempeh offers added protein- 14 grams per serving… For those who are not a fan of tempeh or are wary, it’s a good way to introduce it, for those who love it, you can’t go wrong with this sauce. This is also a good recipe to double and freeze to have on hand at a later time. Feel free to add fresh or dried herbs into the mix!

Ellen’s No Meat Sauce

Da “Meat”

1 package/ 8oz tempeh (I use Lightlife), crumbled

1 large clove garlic, smashed & minced

2T Olive oil

1t chipotle powder

1/4t pink salt

Da Sauce

1 large clove garlic, smashed & minced

1 large can, jar or box (28oz) of diced or crushed tomatoes (I used Bionatura Jar)

1c water

1 large onion, medium dice

1/4t fresh black pepper

1/4t cayenne (opt) or one whole small chili

1/4c extra virgin olive oil

1T sucanat or another sweetener

1t salt or to taste

For Da “Meat”

In a heated skillet, add the olive oil, salt, pepper and chipotle powder and sauté just until aromatic and golden. Add in the tempeh and pan fry until browned and crispy- about 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently over medium high heat. Set aside.

For Da Sauce

In a large pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions and garlic with the sweetener until golden and soft. Add the tomatoes, salt, black and red pepper. Add the water and allow the sauce to come to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 35-45 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, adjust the seasonings. Add in the tempeh.

Serve over any kind of pasta or grains. Super satisfying.

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

Pesto is a sure sign summer is here, with it’s fresh beautiful taste. Basil also has a whole host of healing properties including anti-bactieral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging as it is filled with antioxidants…..Good news for all of us, and as easy as Pesto! I picked this beautiful bag of basil up yesterday at the local farmer’s market and whipped up this fabulous easy pesto. I ate it over brown rice penne, and I honestly don’t know how it could have been improved upon. #nocheese #noneed

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

1-1/2-2c fresh basil, lightly packed

1/3c raw pine nuts, sprouted if possible

2T sweet mellow white miso

2T nutritional Yeast

1/2c extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

½ lemon, juiced

2t brown rice vinegar

Salt and pepper

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In a blender, add the basil, oil, garlic, vinegar, lemon and miso. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust the seasoning adding more salt, pepper or lemon juice if needed. Pour out into an airtight container- keep in the fridge. Can easily be frozen.

Spicy Raw Almond Sesame Sauce

Not all of the ingredients in this sauce are raw, however feel free to add in, subtract out what you need. Just the perfect amount of spicy heat. I sauced up some organic gluten free buckwheat noodles and sprinkled black sesames atop…nomnomnomnomnom

Spicy Raw Almond Sesame Sauce

1/2c raw almond butter

1/2t toasted sesame oil

1T sriracha or hot sauce

2T tamari

2t maple syrup or sucanat

2t hot sesame oil

1/4c sesame seeds

2T mirin

1t brown rice vinegar

1” piece of fresh ginger

1 clove garlic

1/2c- 3/4c water

3T fresh cilantro* opt

In a blender, combine all of the ingredients except the water.

Slowly add the water in, starting out with a 1/2c and adding more depending on the thickness desired, up to 3/4of a cup.

Delicious served over buckwheat soba, or with fresh shredded cabbage to make zesty coleslaw.

**Sriracha hot chili sauce can be found in most specialty markets, Asian markets, and even in some health food stores.

Buckwheat Soba with Ginger Sesame Bok Choy

Buckwheat is totally grain free, and gluten free, it’s a fruit seed that is in the rhubarb family! It is an excellent source of protein as well as many other important nutrients which help to regulate blood sugar and keep you feeling full at the same time. This dish is super delicious and fast to prepare- these noodles are good either hot or cold. Don’t over cook them! (taste them along their journey!)

1 pound of 100% buckwheat soba

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1-2 heads of baby bok choy, washed and thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1″ fresh ginger, grated or thinly sliced

1T coconut oil

2t hot sesame oil

fresh scallions and/or fresh jalapeño to taste

1-2T tamari

1T mirin

Salt and pepper to taste

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the soba and cook until al dente. Rinse well with fresh water, then drain and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat up the coconut oil, sauté the garlic, ginger and hot pepper just until golden. Add the sliced bok choy and sauté just until bright green. Deglaze with mirin, sauté for an additional minute or so and then add in the tamari and hot sesame oil. Toss in the cooked noodles and stir through to combine everything well. Serve hot or cold.

Cheddar Cheesy Zucchini Pappardelle

Because it is still apparently winter this late in March, I decided I needed something warming so I am slightly cooking the zucchini- you can definitely eat the noodles raw by salting them and setting them in a food dehydrator for a 1/2 hour or just set aside for 15-20 minutes so they soften. I pan fried the onion and garlic in 1T of coconut oil then quickly sautéed the noodles. Then the sauce and voila! Cheddar Cheesy Zucchini Pappardelle! THIS IS AWESOME.

Cheddar Cheesy Zucchini Pappardelle

1T coconut oil

1/2 onion thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, smashed and thinly sliced

1 zucchini per person, prepared as so;

Prepare the zucchini-

Using a vegetable peeler, create thin slices from the squash. Salt, pepper and set aside.

Prepare the sauce.

Raw Cheddar Cheesy Sauce

1/2c raw cashews

1/4c water

½ red bell pepper

1t chipotle powder

2T nutritional yeast

1T coconut oil

1T mellow miso paste

1t brown rice vinegar

1t ume vinegar or lemon juice

Salt and black pepper to taste (I used a pinch Smoked Salt)

In a blender or food processor, place all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Use over raw or cooked vegetables!!!

Saute the onions and garlic in the coconut oil until golden and browned. Add the squash and sauté just until al dente.

Immediately toss with 2-3T of the Cheddar Cheese sauce and enjoy!

Pasta Con Tanti Funghi alla Crema / Pasta with Many Mushrooms Cream Sauce

Pasta with Many Mushrooms Cream Sauce

I made this pasta on my birthday and I am telling you, NO ONE, unless they were crazy, would miss the dairy, butter, or cheese in this recipe. The cashews offer a super creamy, velvety texture; paired with the divine savory intensity of the mushrooms is SUPER FRICKEN YUM. Shitake, porcini, and maitake mushrooms are going to lend the most flavor, however, the combo of onion, garlic, mushroom and wine is LEGENDARY and I wouldn’t be to concerned about your selection. Clearly the above picture was prior to me getting the parsley on it- the parsley adds a level of freshness that is SO YUM, but not required. I have even squeezed fresh lemon into the mix prior to serving- it brightens the deliciousness up but is so not necessary. You could totally make this as a fettucini or linguine, just be sure to thin the sauce a bit so that the mix isn’t too heavy for the pasta. Oh, also…crack a TON of black pepper into the mis ALL ALONG THE WAY.

HAVE FUN!!! I LOVE THIS DISH!

4c mixed fresh mushrooms (shitake, maitake, crimini, portobellos, button), thinly sliced

3T extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

1c white wine

1t smoked salt *optional (can use reg pink salt)

1t smoked chipotle powder *optional or 1/2t red pepper flakes

Fresh cracked black pepper- LOTS OF IT

1/4c fresh parsley, minced- reserved for end

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1c raw cashews

2T nutritional yeast

1 clove garlic

1T mellow miso paste

1t ume vinegar

1t brown rice vinegar

1-2c water

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1-pound gluten free pasta- rigatoni, linguine or farfalle- cooked al dente

tossed in 1T vegan butter or olive oil

In a large, heated, skillet or cast iron pan, over medium heat, add the olive oil, hot pepper and onions and sauté until they onions begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and the sliced mushrooms and sauté until the mushrooms have a golden crust on the edges. Add the wine and sauté and move the mix quickly around the pan. Season the mushroom mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Remove about 1 cup of the mushrooms and set aside.

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In a blender, add the cashews, garlic clove, miso, vinegars and about a ½ cup of water to get the mix blended. Process until smooth and taste- it should be on the saltier side, you will be adding more water to the sauce.

Add about another cup of water to the cream mixture to thin it out. Add the cream to the mushrooms remaining in the skillet and over medium low heat, incorporate the mushrooms into the cream sauce., add water if it seems to thick, if it seems to watery, let some of the water cook out, gently stirring frequently.

Add the cooked pasta into the skillet of cream sauce and cook just until heated through. Finish with a little bit of vegan butter or olive oil and add in the fresh parsley. Serve immediately. FRICKEN UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS.